JP5867888B2 - Lighting system for illuminating an environment and method for starting installation of a program in a programmable controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device having a lighting module provided by a programmable controller. The invention further relates to a method for initiating a program upgrade of a programmable controller of a particular lighting module.

  In modern lighting systems, the lighting module can have a programmable controller that controls the operation of the lighting module. This operation includes, for example, control of light emission of the light source of the illumination module. A lighting module comprising a programmable controller can be connected to a network, and the lighting module can receive updates of programs executed by the programmable controller.

  Published US Patent Application No. 2007/0268151 discloses a method for programming a lighting device for such a lighting system. The method is used to program the operation of a lighting device having a light source. The lighting device has firmware and an interface for receiving an external control command for operating the light source. The method includes at least partially programming the active device or the firmware of the interface by sending additional information to the interface.

  In the cited patent application mentioned above, it is suggested that new firmware can be transmitted without interrupting the normal operation of the lighting device. In an actual embodiment, no new firmware installation can be made while the lighting device is fully operational. Today, lighting devices are switched to an upgrade mode of operation where the light source is often switched off. Switching off the light source is very inconvenient in many situations and even in certain undesirable situations where a minimum illumination level must be guaranteed. For example, in a road tunnel, during normal operation of the road tunnel, it is undesirable for the light source to be switched off to install new software in the lighting module.

  The object of the present invention is a lighting device comprising a lighting module with a programmable controller, said lighting device providing sufficient functionality even when upgraded software has to be installed on a particular lighting module An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device that can be better performed.

  A first aspect of the present invention provides an illumination system that illuminates the environment. The second aspect of the present invention provides a method for initiating a program upgrade of a programmable controller of a particular lighting module. A third aspect of the present invention provides a computer program. Advantageous embodiments are defined in the appended dependent claims.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, an illumination system is provided. The lighting system is used to illuminate the environment. The lighting device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of lighting modules and an installation decision generator. The lighting module includes a light source that emits light, a programmable controller that controls operation of the light source, and a network that enables the lighting module to communicate with other lighting modules and / or devices of the lighting system via a network. -It has an interface. The lighting module receives a program for the programmable controller via the network interface and installs the program on the programmable controller depending on a program installation decision. The plurality of lighting modules includes a specific lighting module and at least one adjacent lighting module. The adjacent lighting module, together with a specific lighting module, illuminates a part of the environment to be illuminated. The installation decision generator is used to generate a program installation decision for initiating installation in a program on the programmable controller of the particular lighting module. The installation decision generator obtains operational information related to the light emission operation of an adjacent lighting module, and makes a program installation decision for a part of the environment in the period during which the program is installed. Based on information having said operational information acquired on whether it can be close enough to the desired illumination of the part.

  In many lighting systems, the part of the environment to be illuminated receives light from two or more lighting modules directly or indirectly, for example from a particular lighting module and an adjacent lighting module. As mentioned above, if a particular lighting module has to initiate an update of the program of the programmable controller, the particular lighting module is no longer fully operational and as a result, the particular lighting module is The light source of the lighting module will be switched off or the amount of light emitted will be controlled to a certain fixed level. This can result in a situation where part of the environment to be illuminated is no longer adequately illuminated. For example, if the light source is switched off, the illumination level can be too low. In another example, if the desired lighting of a portion of the environment is dynamically controlled, locking the amount of emitted light to a specific fixed level may result in performance of the lighting system. Cannot follow such dynamically controlled lighting patterns, and can therefore lead to the possibility of too low or too high levels of illumination. In the lighting system according to the present invention, the installation decision generator is configured to prevent the lighting system from sufficiently illuminating a part of the environment to be illuminated, so that the programmable controller of the specific lighting module. When generating (or not generating) the program installation decision for initiating the installation of a program at, the operational lighting information of the information of neighboring lighting modules is taken into account. Thus, if the operational information of the adjacent lighting module indicates that the adjacent lighting module is, for example, broken or updating its software, the installation decision generator It may be decided not to generate the program installation decision to prevent part of the environment to be received from receiving sufficient light. For example, if the operational information of the adjacent lighting module indicates that the adjacent lighting module can increase and / or decrease the level of light emission, the installation decision generator may It can be decided to generate an installation decision. Because the light source of the specific lighting module is switched off or controlled to a fixed lighting level during the process of installing the program, the neighboring lighting module This is because the loss of light or the large amount of light emitted can be compensated.

  Thus, the lighting system has features and features that prevent the provided performance of the lighting system from being too low at the time that new software must be installed on the lighting module of the lighting system.

  The program installation decision relates to the specific lighting module. The installation decision generator needs operational information of the adjacent lighting module. This is the minimum amount of information on which the decision is based, but more information can be used by the installation decision generator. Such additional information is, for example, information on sunlight received at a specific time, or the presence of a person.

  “Enoughly close to the desired illumination of the part of the environment to be illuminated” does not directly mean that the illumination of the part of the environment is exactly equal to the desired illumination, but the software • The illumination provided during the update is within a range around the desired illumination, which defines the minimum and maximum deviations from the desired illumination. The range may be a predetermined range, and may be expressed as either an absolute value or a relative characteristic. In other embodiments, the illumination is sufficiently close to the desired illumination if minimal illumination is to be provided. For example, in a car tunnel, there must be a minimum lighting level in each part of the road (during the process of updating a particular lighting module), the lighting being less than the minimum lighting level. If so, it is close enough to the desired illumination.

  In the above, the term “desired lighting” refers to the intensity level of light that affects the part of the environment to be illuminated and / or the specific color of light that affects the part of the environment to be illuminated. Used to show the distribution.

  A portion of the environment is illuminated by at least the specific lighting module and receives light from an adjacent lighting module. This does not exclude that the adjacent lighting module illuminates an area outside the part of the environment, and even the specific lighting module may emit light towards other areas in some cases. It can be emitted. In the context of the present invention, the part of the environment to be illuminated receives light from a particular and adjacent lighting module, and the desired illumination for the part of the environment to be illuminated is provided. is important.

  The lighting modules can be incorporated into a single lighting fixture, and in other embodiments, one or more lighting modules can be incorporated into a single lighting fixture. The lighting system according to the invention preferably comprises a plurality of lighting fixtures.

  The lighting module has a network interface that communicates with other devices and / or lighting modules of the lighting system. Within the lighting module, the network interface is accessible by other modules of the lighting module. For example, the programmable controller is configured to communicate via the network interface. Or, for example, if the installation decision generator is located in the lighting module, the installation decision generator communicates with other devices and / or lighting modules of the lighting system via the network interface. May be.

  The program received by the particular lighting module and which must be installed in the programmable controller may be a new program for the programmable controller and may be a program of the already installed program on the programmable controller. It may be an update / upgrade.

  Optionally, the lighting system has a network for connection to the network interface of the lighting module.

  The network may be a wired network or a wireless network. Wired networks can have dedicated wires that form the network infrastructure, but wired networks can also use power line sharing, which means that the signal to be transmitted is connected to the lighting module. It is transmitted via the power line. The wireless network may be based on a known wireless communication protocol such as WiFi, ZigBee, Bluetooth, etc. The wireless network may be based on a dedicated protocol designed for lighting systems.

  Optionally, the installation decision generator is configured to store and / or obtain knowledge about which lighting modules are adjacent lighting modules of the particular lighting module. The installation decision generator may store a list of devices that are considered to be neighboring devices of a particular device. Such a list may be predefined at the time the lighting system is installed. In another embodiment, the lighting module of the lighting system is context aware, and can find a directly adjacent lighting module, for example, by a neighbor discovery protocol. “Adjacent” refers in this context to devices that are physically close, and the only truly important limitation on the word “adjacent” is that both the “adjacent” device and the particular device are illuminated. Note that it emits light (directly or indirectly) towards the part of the environment to be. In a lighting system, the neighbor discovery protocol may be based on a wireless network neighbor discovery protocol that determines the signal strength of the emitted RF signal as to which devices can possibly be neighbors. In a lighting system, the neighbor discovery protocol may be based on the emitted coded light signal and the detection of such a signal, and the fact that the signal can be detected by that particular lighting module Indicates that the signal emitter is near the particular lighting module, and the light intensity of the encoded optical signal can be used to detect a possible distance to the emitter of the encoded optical signal .

  Optionally, the lighting system has a command generator that generates a lighting adaptation command for an adjacent lighting module. The generated light adaptation instructions are for the light level of a particular lighting module to allow that part of the lighting of the environment is sufficiently close to the desired lighting of the part of the environment during program installation. To compensate for the desired change in light emission of adjacent lighting modules. Thus, the generated light emission command is generated in such a way that a part of the environment is fully illuminated according to the desired illumination. Thus, if the installation decision generator generates a program installation decision based on operational information indicating that some lighting in the environment can be compensated for during installation of the program, the instruction generation The device generates instructions for controlling the adjacent lighting modules so that the lack of function of the particular lighting module is actually compensated.

  The lighting system may include a plurality of adjacent lighting modules that illuminate the particular lighting module and a portion of the environment. In such a situation, the command generator can be configured to generate the lighting adaptation commands for all adjacent lighting modules.

  As will be described later in this specification, the installation decision generator and the instruction generator may be located in different modules / devices of the lighting system or in the same module or device of the lighting system. And, in particular embodiments, they can even be integrated into a single piece of hardware.

  Optionally, the installation decision generator and the instruction generator are coupled together, and the installation decision generator and the instruction generator are part of the environment during the period in which the program is installed. Sharing the operational information and cooperating in generating program installation decisions and generating adaptive instructions to allow lighting to be close enough to the desired lighting of a portion of the environment Is configured to do. Note that this coupling can be done via a network and the installation decision generator and the instruction generator may be in different lighting modules or different devices of the lighting system. I want.

  Optionally, the specific lighting module comprises the installation decision generator.

  Optionally, the adjacent lighting module also has an instance of the installation decision generator. Each installation decision generator generates a program installation decision for initiating installation of the program in the corresponding programmable controller of the corresponding lighting module to which the corresponding installation decision generator is attached. Thus, according to this optional embodiment, the installation decision generator provided in the specific lighting module determines whether the specific lighting module starts to install a program and the adjacent Another instance of the installation decision generator provided in the lighting module determines whether the adjacent lighting module starts to install the program. According to this optional embodiment, these two installation decision generators may operate independently, but may operate alternatively in synchronism with each other, as described below.

  Optionally, the installation decision generator of each of the particular lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is configured to communicate with each other via a corresponding network interface. If the installation decision generator for the particular lighting module generates a program installation decision, the installation decision generator for the adjacent lighting module is configured to receive a decision message. The adjacent lighting module installation decision generator is configured to defer generation after its corresponding program installation decision until a later point in time when the decision message is received. The later time point may be a time point selected at random, or may be a time point after a predetermined time interval from the time point when the determination message is received. The later time point is sufficient in one embodiment to allow a program installation on the particular lighting module to be performed in a period between receipt of the decision message and the later time point. In the distant future. This embodiment prevents two lighting modules that illuminate a part of the environment from starting to install a program at the same time. This embodiment thus prevents a part of the environment from being fully illuminated.

  If the lighting system has more than one lighting module and each lighting module has an instance of the installation decision generator, a plurality of the installation decision generators may generate and receive the decision message. Note that you can. The plurality of installation decision generators can each independently generate a later time point, and in any embodiment, each of these generates a different time point.

  Optionally, the installation decision generator of each of the particular lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is configured to communicate with each other over a network. If the installation decision generator for the adjacent lighting module generates a program installation decision, the installation decision generator for the particular lighting module is configured to receive a decision message. The installation decision generator for the particular lighting module is configured to defer generation of its corresponding program installation decision when a decision message is received.

  Optionally, the lighting system has a central unit, the central unit having a network interface for allowing the central unit to communicate with the lighting modules and devices of the lighting system via a network. . The central unit has the installation decision generator. The central unit is configured to communicate the generated program installation decision to the specific lighting module via a corresponding network interface (via a network). Thus, according to this optional embodiment, the control of the lighting module can be provided in the central unit rather than distributed to the lighting module itself. In such a situation, it is reasonable to place the installation decision generator in a central unit. It should be noted that one lighting module can be combined with the central unit and in other embodiments the central unit is a separate device with no lighting performance. The central unit can be pre-programmed with knowledge about the topology of the lighting system, which means that the central unit can determine which lighting module of the lighting system is adjacent to the particular lighting module. It means having knowledge about whether it is a module. In this optional embodiment, the installation decision generator can obtain this information from the central unit. The central unit can also have operational information about the adjacent lighting modules, since the central unit can control the lighting level of the lighting modules of the lighting system. In this optional embodiment, the installation decision generator can obtain the operational information from a central unit.

  Optionally, said specific lighting module comprises said command generator, said specific lighting module adjoining said generated lighting adaptation command (via a network) via its corresponding network interface It is configured to communicate to the lighting module.

  Optionally, the adjacent lighting module comprises the command generator.

  Optionally, the lighting system comprises a central unit, the central unit comprises the command generator, and the central unit transmits the generated lighting adaptation commands (via a network) to its corresponding network It is configured to communicate to the adjacent lighting module via an interface.

  Optionally, the operational information is used to change the amount of light emitted by the corresponding light source compared to the actual light emission by the light source at the time when the operational information is obtained. It has information on the performance of adjacent lighting modules. The installation decision generator only when the operational information indicates that the adjacent lighting module can compensate for the light emission of the specific lighting module during the installation of the program by the specific lighting module. Generate the program installation decision. Changing the amount of emitted light can cause the adjacent lighting module to reduce the amount of emitted light and / or increase the amount of light emitted by the adjacent lighting module. Note that this is possible. The operational information may indicate how much (maximum) the amount of light emitted can be increased or decreased. The operational information may relate to the performance of a specific color distribution issued at the time when the operational information is acquired. Alternatively or additionally, the operational information may indicate whether the adjacent lighting module is installing updated software or whether the adjacent lighting module is in normal operation. .

  Optionally, the instruction generator is configured to obtain or store knowledge about light emission of the specific lighting module during installation of a program in the specific lighting module. The instruction generator is configured to obtain or store information about a desired lighting of a part of the environment, and the instruction generator is configured to select one of the environments when the specific lighting module installs a program. It is configured to calculate how much the lighting of the part deviates from the desired lighting of the part of the environment. The calculated deviation is used to produce the indicated desired change in the light emission adaptation command. “Knowledge about light emission of a particular lighting module during installation of a program in a particular lighting module” means, for example, whether the particular lighting module completely switches off its own light source during installation of the program How or at which particular light level the light source remains during the installation process. In the above, the term “obtain or store knowledge” is used. This means that a particular unit has this information stored in its own internal memory (or that information is hard-coded in its own hardware) or a particular unit It means that specific knowledge from other devices in the system can be requested and received. The other device is, for example, a central unit in the lighting system or a specific lighting module of the lighting system.

  Optionally, the illumination system has a desired illumination determiner that determines the desired illumination of the part of the environment. Here, whether at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is present in an area illuminated by a light source of at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module. It has an occupancy sensor for detection. The desired illumination determiner is configured to adapt a desired illumination of a portion of the environment depending on information detected by the occupancy sensor. Thus, the lighting system exhibits a dynamic behavior that depends on the presence of people in the area observed by the occupancy sensor. In this optional embodiment, the desired lighting of the part of the environment is adapted suddenly when a person is present or when there is no longer a person. Since the installation decision generator and the instruction generator take into account the desired lighting conditions, the lighting system of this optional embodiment can be used even when the software of the particular lighting module has to be updated. It can provide dynamic behavior depending on the presence of people.

  Optionally, the desired illumination determiner is configured to provide desired illumination of a portion of the environment to the installation decision generator. If the lighting system also has a command generator, the desired lighting determiner is configured to provide a desired lighting for a portion of the environment to the installation determination generator and the command generator. The desired lighting determiner, the instruction generator and the installation determination generator can be arranged in different devices, so in a particular embodiment, the determined desired lighting is via a network. Note that it can be communicated to the corresponding device and / or unit.

  Optionally, the specific lighting module comprises the desired lighting determiner.

  Optionally, the adjacent lighting module comprises the desired lighting determiner.

  Optionally, if the lighting system has a central unit, the central unit has a desired lighting determiner.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for initiating installation of a program in a programmable controller of a particular lighting module of the lighting system. The specific lighting module has an adjacent lighting module in the lighting system. The adjacent lighting module illuminates a part of the environment together with the specific lighting module. The method generates a program installation decision of i) obtaining operational information regarding the lighting operation of the adjacent lighting module; and ii) initiating installation of a program in a programmable controller of the particular lighting module. Generating the program installation decision means that during the period in which the program is installed, that some lighting in the environment is sufficiently close to some desired lighting in the environment. Step iii) based on the obtained information having the operational information to be enabled, and iii) installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module when the program installation decision is generated Steps to start It has a.

  Optionally, the method comprises obtaining information regarding which lighting modules are adjacent to the particular lighting module.

  According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program having instructions for causing a processor system to perform the method described above. The computer program can be stored in an appropriate storage medium such as a hard disk, a floppy, a memory, or the like. The computer program can be transmitted as a signal along a wired or wireless basis or using a data network such as the Internet. The computer program can also be made available for download and / or remote use on a server.

  The method and the computer program according to the aspect of the present invention have the same advantages as the lighting system according to the first aspect of the present invention and have similar effects with similar effects as the corresponding embodiments of the system.

  These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

  One skilled in the art will appreciate that two or more of the above options, implementations and / or aspects of the present invention can be combined in any manner deemed useful.

  Changes and modifications of the system, methods and / or computer programs corresponding to the above-described changes and modifications of the system can be implemented based on the present description by those skilled in the art.

1 schematically shows an embodiment of a lighting system according to a first aspect of the invention. 1 schematically illustrates a tunnel illuminated by an illumination system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 schematically shows another embodiment of a lighting system according to the first aspect of the present invention. 1 schematically shows an irradiation pattern chart of an embodiment of an illumination system. Fig. 2 schematically shows an illumination pattern chart in a situation where one of the lighting modules has installed the program while the other lighting modules are not adapting their lighting levels. Fig. 6 schematically shows an illumination pattern chart of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the installation of the program takes into account the performance of neighboring lighting modules, and the neighboring lighting modules adapt their lighting levels. Fig. 3 schematically illustrates a method for initiating a program upgrade in a programmable controller of a particular lighting module of a lighting system.

  It should be noted that items indicated by the same reference numerals in different figures are the same structural features and the same functions or the same signals. Since the function or structure of such items has been described, it is not necessary to repeat them in the following description.

  The drawings are only schematic and are not drawn to scale. For clarity, some dimensions are strongly exaggerated.

  A first embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 schematically shows an embodiment of an illumination system 100 according to the first aspect of the present invention. The lighting system 100 can be used to illuminate the environment. The environment may be an indoor space or an outdoor space. The indoor space may be a room in a residence, an office, or a passage of a building, for example. The indoor space may be a road tunnel. The outdoor space may be a road or a parking lot, for example.

  The lighting system 100 has a specific lighting module 110 and an adjacent lighting module 120 coupled to each other via a network 130. Both lighting modules 110, 120 emit light sources 118, 128, programmable controllers 114, 124 for controlling the operation of the light sources, and programmable controllers communicate with other devices in the lighting system via the network. It has network interfaces 116, 126 that enable it. The lighting modules 110, 120 can receive programs for their corresponding programmable controllers 114, 124 via the network 130. The program is pushed and transmitted toward the lighting modules 110 and 120 by, for example, a server connected to the network 130. In another embodiment, the lighting modules 110, 120 are configured to check via the network 130 on the server whether updated software is available, and new updated software is available. , The lighting modules 110 and 120 can download the updated software via the network 130. The lighting modules 110 and 120 do not install the updated software immediately, but install the program depending on the program installation decision. In the following description of FIG. 1, the lighting module 110 is indicated by the word “specific lighting module 110” and the lighting module 120 is indicated by the word “adjacent lighting module 120”. A particular lighting module 110 and an adjacent lighting module 120 are placed at particular locations in the environment illuminated by the lighting system 100 during use. Both a particular lighting module 110 and an adjacent lighting module 120 (partially) illuminate a part of the environment. A portion of the environment receives light from a light source 118 of a particular lighting module 110 and a light source 128 of an adjacent lighting module 120. Not all the light generated by each light source 118, 128 must be emitted towards a part of the environment. The only criterion relevant to the context of the present invention is that light affecting both parts of the environment originates from both light sources 118, 128, and the amount of light emitted by one of the light sources 118, 128 varies. If so, the amount of light that affects part of the environment also changes. Furthermore, light emitted by the respective light sources 118, 128 and affecting a part of the environment can be transmitted linearly from the light sources 118, 128 toward the part of the environment, It can also be influenced by reflection (such as reflection by a wall of the passage when a specific lighting module and an adjacent lighting module are provided in the passage of a building).

  A particular lighting module 110 has an installation decision generator 112 that generates a program installation decision for initiating installation of a program in the particular lighting module 110. In one embodiment, the installation decision generator 112 stores knowledge about which lighting modules are adjacent lighting modules 120 of a particular lighting module 110. Alternatively, this knowledge can be obtained at the time this knowledge is used in the installation decision generator 112. The knowledge acquisition can be done by requesting information from other devices connected to the network, or a specific neighbor discovery protocol is performed to discover neighboring lighting modules 120. . The installation decision generator 112 also obtains operational information regarding the light emission operation of the adjacent lighting module 120. The operational information may include, for example, information regarding the color and / or emission level of light currently emitted by the adjacent lighting module 120, for example, the adjacent lighting module 120 may change light emission. Contains information about the extent to which it can be done (low / high light intensity, other colors, etc.) The installation decision generator 112 has acquired the program installation decision to allow some lighting in the environment to be sufficiently close to the desired lighting during program installation. Based on operational information. That is, the lighting that is desired to be available is known (eg, the minimum lighting level), and the installation decision generator 112 knows what is caused by the light emission of the light source 118 of the particular lighting module 110. As well as knowing the performance of adjacent lighting modules 120 to change or adapt their light emission, the installation decision generator 112 is able to make program installation decisions as part of the environment. It can be estimated whether insufficient lighting will result. In this case, the installation determination generator 112 determines not to start installing the program in the specific lighting module 110. However, if the installation decision generator 112 knows that some of the lighting in the environment is not insufficient (eg, the light source 118 is switched off during program installation in a particular lighting module 110) Since the adjacent lighting module 120 can compensate for the loss of lighting in part of the environment, a program installation decision is generated.

  It should be noted that in the above discussion, the installation decision generator 112 was stated to be able to estimate whether the start of program installation would result in insufficient lighting of a portion of the environment. Information available to estimate this relates to operational information of at least one adjacent lighting module and the behavior of the particular lighting module 110 in the time interval at which the particular lighting module 110 installs the update program. Based on the knowledge, it is knowledge about which lighting modules emit light with a particular lighting module 110 towards a part of the environment. This estimation can be based on the use of some relatively simple rules pre-programmed in the installation decision generator 112, such rules being inferred at the time the lighting system is installed, for example ( deducted), the rule is relatively simple what happens with respect to the lighting of a part of the environment when a particular lighting module 110 and / or an adjacent lighting module 120 changes the emission of the corresponding light source 118, 128. It is described in a manner. Alternatively, the installation decision generator 112 utilizes a well-known optical formula that describes how much light affects a part of the environment, depending on the available information. A kind of optical simulator. The present invention is not limited to a particular method for estimating the lighting of a portion of the environment, but is known by those skilled in the art to estimate the lighting of the portion of the environment depending on available information. Other techniques that have been used can be used as well.

  In one embodiment, the adjacent lighting module 120 includes an instruction generator 122 that generates a light emission adaptation instruction for the adjacent lighting module 120. The generated adaptation instructions are obtained during the installation of a program for a particular lighting module during the installation of a part of the environment that is sufficiently close to the desired lighting of the part of the environment during the installation of the program. As can be seen, a desired change in light emission of an adjacent lighting module 120 is shown to compensate for the light emission level of a particular lighting module 110. Thus, both the installation decision generator and the instruction generator contribute to achieving that part of the environment will not be poorly illuminated. Insufficient means that the illumination is not close enough to the desired light illumination, and thus insufficient illumination can also mean that the illumination is too bright or too low. Please note that.

  In one embodiment, the installation decision generator 112 and the instruction generator 122 are coupled together. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, they can communicate with each other via the network 130. The installation decision generator 112 and the instruction generator 122 share operational information and cooperate in the generation of program installation decisions and the generation of lighting adaptation instructions to obtain sufficient lighting for part of the environment. By adjusting when the installation of the update program in a particular lighting module 110 begins and controlling the light emission of the light source 128 of the adjacent lighting module 120, the best lighting for a part of the environment is determined by the program. For a particular lighting module 110, it can be obtained during the installed period.

  In one embodiment, adjacent lighting module 120 also has an instance of installation decision generator 123. The installation decision generator 123 has the same characteristics as the installation decision generator 112 for a particular lighting module 110, the difference being that the installation decision generator 123 is adjacent, not in a particular lighting module 110. Generating a program installation decision for initiating installation of the program in the lighting module 120; The installation decision generators 112, 123 can communicate with each other via the network 130. If the first one of the installation decision generators 112, 123 generates a program installation decision, the other of the installation decision generators 112, 123 is determined from the first one of the installation decision generators 112, 123. Receive a message. The decision message indicates that a program installation decision has been generated and that the lighting module in which the decision message has occurred starts to install the program. When one of the installation decision generators 112, 123 receives the decision message, it defers generation of its program installation decision until a later point in time. The later time point may be determined based on a randomly generated time point, or may be based on adding a predetermined period to the time when the determination message is received. In one embodiment, the later time point is in a future that is far enough that the lighting module from which the program installation has started can finish installing the program before the later time point. Also good.

  Certain lighting modules 110 and / or adjacent lighting modules 120 may have occupancy sensors 119, 129 that detect whether a person is in or near a part of the environment. The information of the occupancy sensors 119, 129 can be shared by the corresponding lighting modules 110, 120. In one example, a particular lighting module 110 has a desired lighting determiner 113. The desired illumination determiner 113 determines the desired illumination of the part of the environment, and the desired illumination is adapted depending on the information detected by at least one of the occupancy sensors 119, 129. For example, if people are in or near a part of the environment, the desired lighting level is increased or the desired color of the part of the lighting is changed. Desired lighting determiner 113 shares the generated desired lighting with installation decision generators 112, 123 and / or instruction generator 122.

  Note that different subsystems of a particular lighting module 110 and adjacent lighting modules 120 are connected to each other in a particular chain of subsystems. The depicted connection is merely a typical connection, and in a specific implementation other connections between subsystems can also be provided, the subsystem between two other subsystems being Data can be sent between two other subsystems.

  It should be noted that the lighting system 100 does not have a central entity that controls each lighting module 110, 120. In the lighting system 100, each lighting module 110, 120 is independent to a certain level, in its own programmable controller 114, 124 and other subsystems of the lighting modules 110, 120 to control the light sources 118, 128. Run the algorithm at Thus, the lighting control of the environment is distributed between the different lighting modules 110, 120. Thus, each lighting module 110, 120 can communicate with at least an adjacent lighting module so that a desired lighting of a part of the environment can be ensured. In one embodiment, the lighting modules 110, 120 share status information and information regarding the ability to change their status. The status may be actual light emission of the light sources 118 and 128, or may be an operational status such as “currently installing a program” or “currently in normal operation”. The ability to change its own status relates to “installation is terminated at a certain point in time” or “light intensity level can be adapted to levels in the interval from 0% to 100% intensity” etc. May have information.

  In various practical embodiments, all lighting modules 110, 120 have an instance of an installation decision generator, an instance of an instruction generator, an occupancy sensor, and an instance of the desired lighting determiner. Although these units are discussed separately from the programmable controllers 114, 124 of the lighting devices 110, 120, these units can be combined with the programmable controllers 114, 124. For example, the programmable controllers 114, 124 may execute computer program code that includes instructions to perform at least one function of an installation decision generator, an instruction generator, and a desired lighting determiner.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a three-dimensional view of a tunnel 200 illuminated by an illumination system according to the present invention. The tunnel 200 is, for example, a road tunnel that requires minimal road lighting so that a car can be safely driven in a road tunnel. Alternatively, the same picture can be used, for example, to indicate the use of a lighting system in a building aisle. The aisle is, for example, a hotel aisle in which multiple rooms of a hotel are located, the aisle must be illuminated according to the desired lighting level, especially when people are in the aisle Must have a high lighting level. In the discussion regarding the figure, the term “tunnel 200” is used, but the term “passage” may be used in the same way instead of “tunnel”. Lighting fixtures 204 and 206 are provided on the ceiling 202 of the tunnel 200, and each of the lighting fixtures 204 and 206 includes a lighting module of the lighting system according to the present invention. For example, the illumination module is the illumination module of the illumination system 100 of FIG. 1 or the illumination system 300 of FIG. The first lighting fixture 204 has a specific lighting module, and the second lighting fixture 206 has an adjacent lighting module. The lighting system illuminates the road 208 of the tunnel 200. Certain lighting modules illuminate a portion 210 of the road 208 and adjacent lighting modules illuminate other portions 214 of the road 208. The common part 212 of both parts 210, 214 is part of the environment illuminated by a particular lighting module and an adjacent lighting module. In an actual embodiment, the illuminated portions 210, 214 of the road 208 cannot be accurately shown by drawing lines because the illumination level slowly decreases towards the boundaries of the portions 210, 214. Please note that. That is, the boundary between the portions 210 and 214 is formed by a soft transition from maximum illumination to no illumination. Therefore, some boundaries of the environment indicate areas of calm transition.

  FIG. 3 schematically shows another embodiment of the illumination system 300 according to the first aspect of the present invention. The lighting system 300 is similar to the lighting system 100 of FIG. However, the lighting system 300 has a central unit 340 that controls the lighting system 300. The lighting modules 310 and 320 include network interfaces 116 and 126, programmable controllers 114 and 124, and light sources 118 and 128. Optionally, one or both of the lighting modules 310, 320 have an occupancy sensor (not shown). Details of these elements of the lighting modules 310, 320 are described above in the context of FIG. The other modules of the lighting system 100 that were provided in the lighting modules 110, 120 are in the lighting system 300 provided in the central unit 340. The central unit 340 has at least a network interface 342 that allows the central unit 340 to communicate with the lighting modules 310, 320 of the lighting system 300. Other units that may be provided in the central unit 340 are an installation decision generator 344, an instruction generator 346, and a desired lighting determiner 348, for example. Since the central unit 340 is provided in the lighting system 300, the lighting system 300 is centrally controlled and all knowledge about the topology of the lighting system (ie which lighting modules are located and where they are illuminated). The same part of the environment to be lit), knowledge about the performance of the lighting module (dimmable, etc.), knowledge about the current emission of the lighting module, etc. are present in the central unit 340 itself. obtain. Information about the topology and the performance of the lighting module can be programmed into the central unit. A suitable time to program this information into the central unit 340 is when the lighting system is installed or the central device 340 is configured to operate in the lighting system 300.

  The central unit 340 may be a unit that provides / communicates the program to the respective lighting modules 310 and 320. In another embodiment, the lighting modules 310, 320 obtain a program from a server that the lighting modules 310, 320 can reach via the network 130. For example, the network 130 is coupled via a gateway or router to the Internet, for example, where the program is published by the manufacturer of the lighting modules 310, 320.

  The lighting system 300 of FIG. 3 is centrally controlled. The lighting system 100 of FIG. 1 uses distributed control to control light emission by corresponding lighting modules 110, 120. The present invention is not limited to any of these specific extremes, and those skilled in the art can create embodiments that are within the scope of the present invention, with some of the controls locally. Note that some of the controls are implemented centrally.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an irradiation pattern chart 450 of one embodiment of the illumination system 400. The illustrated lighting system 400 has four lighting modules 402... 408 in a row. This column symbolically represents the x-axis (shown at the bottom of the illumination pattern chart 450). The presented lighting modules 402 ... 408 are coupled to the network 130 and have the same characteristics as the lighting modules 110, 130 of FIG. Alternatively, if the presented lighting modules 402... 408 are assumed to have the central unit (now shown) also discussed in the context of FIG. Same characteristics as 330. In this example, during normal operation, i.e. when the lighting module has not installed a program for its programmable controller, each of the lighting modules 402 ... 408 emits light at 60% of its maximum luminous performance. This means that the light emission of the lighting module can be increased by 40% or decreased by 60% if required. The lighting modules 402... 408 emit most of their light in the downward direction, and the footprints of the light beams emitted by the lighting modules 402. This overlap may extend toward or beyond the position exactly below one or more subsequent lighting modules in a row. If the lighting modules 402... 408 are provided on the ceiling of a particular space and are assumed to emit light towards the floor facing the ceiling, they are exactly below the row of lighting modules 402. Along the line, it is possible to measure the light intensity I that affects the floor at a position along the line. The measured light intensity I is indicated by line 452 in the irradiation pattern chart 450. Under each lighting module 402... 408, the intensity of this illumination is higher than that between the two lighting modules 402. In the irradiation pattern chart 450, the (minimum) desired illumination intensity _Imin is shown. Earlier it was mentioned that the irradiation pattern chart is measured. However, such illumination pattern charts can also be simulated, calculated and / or estimated based on available knowledge about the lighting system topology and the lighting module operational information. For example, the installation decision generator and / or the instruction generator simulates, calculates or estimates an illumination pattern chart to determine whether some illumination of the environment is sufficiently close to the desired illumination .

FIG. 5 shows an illumination pattern chart 450 of the lighting system 400 in a situation where one lighting module 406 has the program installed and the other lighting modules 402, 404, 408 are not adapting their light level. This is shown schematically. Note that the information shown in FIG. 5 relates to a situation where the decision to install the program was not based on the inventive characteristics of this application. In the example shown, when the lighting module 406 installs the program, the lighting module 406 is not operational and switches off its own light source. Therefore, 0% of the maximum light intensity is emitted. The other lighting modules 402, 404, 408 remain emitting at 60% of their maximum intensity level. Thus, as shown by line 454 in the illumination pattern chart 450, the light intensity I affecting the floor is still below the desired illumination intensity I _min under the illumination modules 402, 404, 408. While high, the light intensity I affecting the floor is too low under the lighting module 406, as shown at location 455. In accordance with the present invention, if it was known that other lighting modules 402, 404, 408 would not adapt their light emission intensity, a decision was not made to start installing the program in lighting module 406. Or, at least one of the adjacent lighting modules 404, 408 would have adapted its intensity of light emission to compensate for the loss of light during the time that the lighting module 406 is installing the program. The latter situation is illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the lighting system when the installation of the program takes into account the performance of the neighboring lighting modules 404, 408 and when the neighboring lighting modules 404, 408 are just adapting their own lighting levels. The illumination pattern chart 450 of the Example is shown. In the lighting system 400, at least one installation decision generator and at least one command generator are provided, and these two units have 90% of the maximum light intensity of the adjacent lighting modules 404, 408 lighting. In the lighting pattern chart 450, at the position 455 (under the lighting module 406), the light intensity I at the floor is higher than the (minimum) desired lighting intensity _Imin. This is indicated by line 456.

  FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a method 700 for initiating a program upgrade in a programmable controller of a particular lighting module of a lighting system. A particular lighting module has an adjacent lighting module in a lighting system that illuminates a portion of the environment with the particular lighting module. The method 700 includes an optional step 702 of obtaining information regarding which lighting modules are adjacent to the particular lighting module, the method 700 i) adjacent. Obtaining operational information about the lighting operation of the lighting module 704, ii) generating a program installation decision for initiating installation of a program in a programmable controller of the particular lighting module, the program comprising: An installation decision generation was obtained to allow lighting of a portion of the environment that is sufficiently close to a desired lighting of the portion of the environment during the period that the program is installed. Steps based on information including the operational information. And iii) when the program installation decisions are generated, comprising the step of step 708 to start the installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module.

  In summary, a lighting system for illuminating an environment and a method for initiating program installation in a programmable controller of a lighting module are provided. The lighting system has a specific lighting module, an adjacent lighting module and an installation decision generator. Part of the environment is illuminated by both lighting modules. Both lighting modules have a programmable controller and can receive a program to be installed in the programmable controller via the network interface. The installation decision generator is operational information regarding whether the lighting performance of adjacent lighting modules allows some lighting in the environment to be sufficiently close to the some desired lighting. To determine whether the installation of the program on the particular lighting module can be started.

  The above embodiments are described rather than limiting the invention, and those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Note that you can.

  In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The use of the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in an appended claim. A singular component does not exclude the presence of a plurality of components. The invention can also be implemented by hardware having several separate elements and by an optimally programmed computer. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims (18)

A lighting system that illuminates the environment,
A plurality of illumination modules, wherein the illumination module is a light source that emits light, a programmable controller that controls the operation of the light source, and the illumination module via the network , the other illumination modules and the illumination system of the illumination system The lighting module receives a program for the programmable controller via the network interface and relies on a program installation decision. The plurality of lighting modules are configured to install a specific lighting module and a part of the environment together with the specific lighting module. Kutomo one and a neighboring lighting module, a plurality of lighting modules,
A installation decisions generator for generating a program installation decision to start the installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module, to obtain the operational information on the light emitting operation of the lighting module said adjacent in installation decision generator configured to, lighting part of the environment, to allow those sufficiently close in time during the installation operation of the program in a part of the desired illumination of the environment An installation decision generator configured to base the program installation decision on information including the acquired operational information;
Lighting system. A command generator for generating a light emission adaptation command to the adjacent lighting module, wherein the generated light emission adaptation command includes the environment in a period in which the lighting of a part of the environment is installed in the program. to allow those close enough to the lighting of a portion said desired during the installation operation of the program, the light emission of the neighboring lighting module to compensate for the emission level of the particular lighting module The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising an instruction generator that indicates a desired change in. The installation determination generator and the instruction generator are coupled to each other, the installation determination generator and the instruction generator, lighting of a part of the environment, the environment in a period during installation operation of the program to allow is sufficiently close to the part of the desired lighting, as well as share information on the operation, cooperate in the generation of the generation and the emission adaptive instruction of the program installation decisions The lighting system according to claim 2.   The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the specific lighting module comprises the installation decision generator.   The adjacent lighting module also has an instance of the installation decision generator, each installation decision generator corresponding to the corresponding programmable controller of the corresponding lighting module to which the respective installation decision generator is attached. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein the program installation decision is generated to initiate installation of the program at. The installation decision generator of each of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is configured to communicate with each other via the corresponding network interface, and the installation decision of the specific lighting module the generator, when said program installation decisions are generated, sending the decision message to the lighting module said adjacent, the said installation decisions generator of adjacent lighting modules, up receives the decision message, the adjacent 6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the installation decision generator of a lighting module defers generation of its corresponding program installation decision to a later point in time when the decision message is received. A network interface enabling the central unit to communicate with the lighting module of the lighting system and other devices in the lighting system via the network; and the installation decision generator wherein a central unit, having a central unit for transferring the program installation decisions generated via a corresponding network interface itself to the particular lighting module, a lighting system according to claim 1, have a . The illumination system according to claim 2,
The specific lighting module has the command generator, and the specific lighting module communicates the generated lighting adaptation command to the neighboring lighting module via its corresponding network interface; Or the adjacent lighting module has the command generator,
Lighting system. A command generator for generating a light emission adaptation command to the adjacent lighting module, wherein the generated light emission adaptation command includes the environment in a period in which the lighting of a part of the environment is installed in the program. The light emission of the adjacent lighting module so as to compensate for the light emission level of the specific lighting module during the installation operation of the program so as to be able to be close enough to some of the desired lighting The lighting system of claim 1, comprising an instruction generator that indicates a desired change in:
A network interface enabling the central unit to communicate with the lighting module of the lighting system and other devices in the lighting system via the network; and the installation decision generator And having a central unit that communicates the program installation decision generated via its corresponding network interface to the particular lighting module,
The specific lighting module has the command generator, and the specific lighting module communicates the generated lighting adaptation command to the adjacent lighting module via its corresponding network interface; ,
The adjacent lighting module has the command generator, or
The central unit has the command generator, and the central unit communicates the generated lighting adaptation command to the adjacent lighting module via its corresponding network interface;
Lighting system. The operational information is the amount of light emitted by the light source of the adjacent lighting module compared to the actual light emission by the light source of the adjacent lighting module at the time when the operational information was acquired. Information about the performance of the adjacent lighting module for changing the operational decision information, the operational decision information is generated by the adjacent lighting module during the installation of the program. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the program installation decision is generated only if it indicates that the light emission of can be compensated.   The instruction generator obtains or stores knowledge about the lighting of the particular lighting module during installation of the program, and the instruction generator obtains information about the desired lighting of a part of the environment Or store and the instruction generator calculates how much of the lighting of the environment deviates from the desired lighting of the environment when the particular lighting module is installing the program. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the calculated deviation is used to generate the indicated desired change in the light emission adaptation command. The lighting system of claim 1, comprising a desired lighting determiner that determines the desired lighting of a portion of the environment.
Whether at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is in a region illuminated by the light source of the at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module. Has an occupancy sensor to detect,
The desired illumination determiner adapts the desired illumination of a portion of the environment depending on information detected by the occupancy sensor;
Lighting system. A lighting system according to claim 12,
  The desired lighting determiner supplies the desired lighting of a portion of the environment to the installation decision generator;
  Lighting system. A command generator for generating a light emission adaptation command to the adjacent lighting module, wherein the generated light emission adaptation command includes the environment in a period in which the lighting of a part of the environment is installed in the program. The light emission of the adjacent lighting module so as to compensate for the light emission level of the specific lighting module during the installation operation of the program so as to be able to be close enough to some of the desired lighting The lighting system of claim 1, comprising an instruction generator that indicates a desired change in:
  The lighting system comprises a desired lighting determiner for determining the desired lighting of a part of the environment;
  Whether at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module is in a region illuminated by the light source of the at least one of the specific lighting module and the adjacent lighting module. Has an occupancy sensor to detect,
  The desired illumination determiner adapts the desired illumination of a portion of the environment depending on information detected by the occupancy sensor;
In the lighting system,
  The desired lighting determiner supplies the desired lighting of a portion of the environment to the installation decision generator; or
  The desired lighting determiner supplies the desired lighting of a portion of the environment to the installation decision generator and the instruction generator;
Lighting system.   15. A lighting system according to claim 13 or 14,
  The specific lighting module has the desired lighting determiner, or
  The adjacent lighting module has the desired lighting determiner
Lighting system.   The specific lighting module comprises the installation decision generator;
  The adjacent lighting module also has an instance of the installation decision generator, each installation decision generator corresponding to the corresponding programmable controller of the corresponding lighting module to which the respective installation decision generator is attached. 15. A lighting system according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the program installation decision is generated to start installation of the program in
The specific lighting module has the desired lighting determiner;
The adjacent lighting module has the desired lighting determiner, or
The central unit has the desired lighting determiner;
Lighting system. A method for starting the installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module of the lighting system, said in the illumination system there is lighting module adjacent to the particular lighting module, lighting module said adjacent said specific A method of illuminating a part of an environment with a lighting module of
Obtaining operational information regarding the light emitting operation of the adjacent lighting module;
Generating a program installation decision for initiating installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module, wherein the generation of the program installation decision is performed when a portion of lighting in the environment is Based on information including the operational information obtained to allow the program to be installed sufficiently close to the desired lighting of a portion of the environment; and
Initiating the installation of the program in the programmable controller of the particular lighting module when the program installation decision is generated;
Having a method. A computer program comprising instructions for causing the lighting system to perform the method of claim 17 .

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